Ireland's 2025 Eurovision entry

Ireland has a long and successful Eurovision history going all the way back to Dana's 1970 song "All kinds of everything". Eurovision was very different back then of course. This positive, sweet song about (presumably heterosexual) love fitted the Eurovision bill perfectly and stormed to success, even being covered by Sinéad O'Connor.

How Eurovison has changed though. One contestant for Ireland's Eurovision entry on the Late Late Show described Eurovision as the "Gay Olympics". Indeed at least three of the six contestants were from the LGBT+ community. Plus Ireland's 2024 winner Bambi Thug is as far away from Dana's clean cut image as it is possible to be. She's non-binary, is covered in tattoos, and has a history of drug taking. She's divided opinion, yet remains a very popular act to this day.

Norwegian singer EMMY

Talking of dividing opinions, the choice of EMMY to represent Ireland did that to a degree. Her song Laika Party was definitely catchy. It's a good dance anthem with a strong up tempo rhythm and good vocal. The lyrics reimagine the life of a dog sent up to space by the Russians in 1957 who to this day is alive and partying as it revolves around our galaxy. A positive spin to a sad story about a dog. It should be met well by the Eurovision community. 

The song and group has a fun edge to them as well. I'm not sure what spelling their name in capitals is trying to say, but EMMY's choice of song title has a definite young and funky edge. For "Laika", read "Like a". Geddit? But what really set them aside from the other contestants was the song's performance. Flanked by two dancers flanked is silver shell suits, you could be forgiven for missing the singer's brother standing at the back playing a keyboard. His deadpan look and robotic choreography was a nod to Germany's Kraftwerk, and went down a storm.

As for any controversy, there wasn't much on the night. EMMY were one of two stand out songs and were always likely to be a strong contender. The expert panels may have thought Samantha Mamba's "My Way" was a stronger entry, and the public vote won out. As for Emmy themselves, they're entry makes we wonder about the entry criteria for acts. As Norwegians, should they really be allowed to sing for Ireland? Well rules are rules, and they're not the first non-native to represent a country. Besides Dana was from Derry which technically at least isn't Ireland.

Has EMMY a chance of winning? That's hard to say without hearing the other entries. Being Norwegian may count against them, but the song is a banger and it's on-stage performance was right up there with the great Eurovision performances of the past. Perhaps it doesn't have the shock value of Finland's Lordi, but I'd be disappointed if it didn't do well. Whilst I'm not a massive Eurovision fan, I be routing for EMMY in May.

The role of traditional music in Irish life

Traditional Irish music is known and loved around the world. Tourists flock to Ireland to experience the magic of music sung and played in bars around the country. Traditional Irish music is a major export too, with musicians playing at music festivals around the globe. The Irish diaspora obviously plays a big part in that, but the popularity of traditional Irish music goes way beyond that. You'd expect it to be popular in the USA and Australia, but Germany and India?

Irish culture

Traditional music in Ireland is about our identity, experiences, and culture. It is who we are. It's been around since the dawn of man, with small groups of musicians signing to their family and friends at home. It underwent a resurgence in the late 19th century, with the rise in popularity of the Irish language and independence movement from Britain.

Today it's easy to find an Irish bar in just about any town or city around the world, many of which play Irish music of some type or other. Traditional music is intrinsically married to a pint and a group of friends enjoying the craic. Places like Dingle in Co. Clare are meccas for traditional music fans, and there are music festivals frequented by Irish musicians around the world.

Is our culture under threat?

Pubs and bars around the country play a big part in the life of a musician. It's easy to stumble across a bar in the evening just about anywhere in Ireland with music playing. If you're lucky it will be a small group in the corner just singing and playing songs in the same way they have been for hundreds of years. Locals and tourists alike sit and salivate in its foot tapping loveliness.

If the music is tied to pubs and bars, what happens if the number of bars available to play in are diminishing. Like other countries around the world, the hospitality sector has taken a massive hit since the Covid pandemic. Many are closing because they just can't make the numbers add up. Others are adapting the experience they offer by appealing to the lowest common denominator. You can't blame them for doing what is necessary for their business, but if it continues the opportunities to display who we are diminishes too. With that will we become less Irish?

Tradfest

This is why events like Tradfest is important. Now in its 20th year, Tradfest brings together the best Irish musicians from around the globe together for a week of magic. What is wonderful about it is that you're unlikely to hear names like Enya and Christie Moore. Great musicians they most certainly are, but Tradfest is about the less commercial folk. Yes the artists sell records and make a professional living from their craft, but they genuinely do it because they love it. It just so happens they're good enough to make money from it. Enya and Christie can do their own thing, and thank the almighty they do, but just like a small pub corner in Tuosist, Co. Kerry there's room for everyone.